Over $2.6M worth of drugs seized in Chatham-Kent’s largest bust

A 35-year-old Chatham man is facing a long list of charges in connection with a drug bust in which millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs were seized.

Chatham-Kent police said members of their Intelligence Section searched an apartment in Chatham Wednesday night. Officers seized cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, hydromorphone, GHB, ecstasy, morphine, and fentanyl. The total value of the drugs is estimated at $2,669,290. Police Chief Gary Conn said this is the largest drug bust to happen in Chatham-Kent’s history.

Other items seized included a nine-millimetre handgun, ammunition, a digital scale, packaging materials, and $52,000 in Canadian currency.

“I wish to commend all of our officers who worked on this project. This was both a lengthy and tedious investigation requiring the use of many resources,” said Conn. “I have been saying for some time now that a lot of our property crime, especially break and enters, are tied back to drugs, as there is a direct correlation between these offences. Our service is committed to mitigating and fighting against the sale and consumption of illicit drugs within our community.”

Jonathan Toornstra, of Riverview Drive in Chatham, is facing a total of 18 charges. They include:

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Methamphetamine

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cannabis Marihuana

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Fentanyl

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Heroin

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Hydromorphone

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Morphine

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – Ecstasy

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking – GHB

Possession Of A Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order

Possession Of A Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order

Possession Of A Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order

Possession Of A Firearm Contrary to a Prohibition Order

Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon

Unsafe Storage

Possession of a Prohibited Weapon knowing its Possession is Unauthorized

Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition

Tampering with a Serial Number

Toornstra will remain in custody and has a bail hearing scheduled for April 15.

Conn said the main source of drugs coming into Chatham-Kent is “just a few drug traffickers.” He also mentioned that their efforts to tackle the drug-related offences and find drug traffickers will continue.